Composting is the process of recycling organic matter, such as leaves and food scraps, into fertilizer to enrich the soil. It is an easy way to turn waste into usable material and is considered black gold by gardeners and a zero-waste strategy by environmentalists. Here are some key points to help kids understand composting:

• What is composting? Composting is an easy way to turn waste into usable material. Brown materials like leaves, straw, and shredded wood are mixed with green materials like food scraps and manure to create compost.

• Why is composting important? Composting reduces waste and creates a useful end product that can be used to enrich soil and grow plants.

• How to compost? There are many ways to compost, but a simple method for kids is bucket composting. Collect food scraps and other compostable materials in a container, then transfer them to a bucket. Chop the scraps and mix them with an equal amount of greens and browns in the bucket. Turn the contents or add a lid and shake once or twice a week.

• What can be composted? Composting involves adding both green and brown materials to the bin. Green materials include food scraps, grass clippings, and coffee grounds, while brown materials include leaves, straw, and shredded wood. You’ll want to add the green materials and brown materials in alternating layers, using twice as many browns as greens.

• What is the end product? Finished compost can be used as a mulch or as a soil amendment to improve physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil.

Teaching kids about composting can be a fun and rewarding activity that introduces them to STEM, patience, and gardening. There are many resources available, including videos and guides, to help make composting understandable for kids.